Symptoms

There are multiple causes for venous disorders, with symptoms varying by disorder. Symptoms range in severity from minor discomfort in the extremities to skin ulcers and pulmonary embolisms brought on by a blood clot traveling to the lungs.

Minor Symptoms

Itchy Legs

Feeling of weakness in the legs

Swelling in the legs or ankles

Changes in skin color, especially in lower leg

Moderate Symptoms

Aching or throbbing in legs

A heavy feeling in the legs

Leg cramps

Development of thicker skin in legs

Varicose veins

Tight feeling in the calf muscle

Severe Symptoms

Pain when standing that improves when legs are elevated

Leg ulcers

Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Redness on the leg

Sudden swelling of the leg

Skin that is warm to the touch in the area that is swollen

Pain or tenderness in the leg, which often starts in the calf, feels like a cramp and may present only when standing or ambulatory

Symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism

Venous disorders, especially deep vein thrombosis, can lead to a pulmonary embolism — a blood clot that travels to the lungs. There are several warning signs for pulmonary embolism that require immediate treatment, including:

CEAP Classification System

The first step towards managing CVD is classifying your patient’s symptoms. A clinical classification system known as CEAP – Clinical, Etiology, Anatomic and Pathophysiology – was developed in 1994 by an international consensus conference to provide uniformity in reporting, diagnosis and managing CVD.

The CEAP classification system focuses on the clinical aspects on this site, which range from C0, with no clinical or visible signs, to C6, when venous leg ulcers (VLU) are present.

About 50% of women and 40% of men in the United States suffer from some type of vein problem. Source: "EPublications." Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Fact Sheet. Ed. Robert J. Min. Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, 16 July 2012. Web. 18 June 2015.

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